SC Postponed Plea against restriction in J&K, gave 2 weeks to restore normalcy

NPnews24 Online: The Supreme Court refused to pass an order on the Kashmir clampdown and said it will wait for “normalcy to return to Jammu and Kashmir” and then hear the matter again after 2 weeks.

The Supreme Court refused to pass immediate directions on a plea seeking lifting of several restrictions including on communication lines, internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.

A three judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra was hearing the petition filed by congress activist Tehseen Poonawalla on the Centre’s decision to impose restrictions and “other regressive measures” in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the provisions of Article 370.

In its argument, the centre referred to the July 2016 agitation in Kashmir after the encounter of terrorist Burhan Wani and told the court that it will take a few days to restore normalcy in the Valley.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, who represented the Congress activist, said, “If the idea is to make citizens of Kashmir full citizens, there cannot be total lockdown. If normalcy is to be restored there has to be Constitutional normalcy. We cannot deprive constitutional rights.”